Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Act 1, Scene 1
In front of the crowded Senate in Rome (which is conveniently located next to the Andronicus family tomb), two brothers, Saturninus and Bassianus, and their respective armies are ready to throw dow...
Act 2, Scene 1
Alone in front of the Senate-house, Aaron delivers a soliloquy (a long speech that reveals a character's innermost thoughts to the audience) about Tamora's rise to power in Rome. Since Tamora and A...
Act 2, Scene 2
The next morning Titus and his sons wait outside the emperor's palace and prepare for a day of hunting.
Act 2, Scene 3
In the forest, Aaron hides a bag of gold under a tree.
Act 2, Scene 4
Lavinia appears on stage with "her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out, and ravished." Self-explanatory.
Act 3, Scene 1
On a street in Rome, a group of judges, tribunes, and senators troop along with the prisoners, Martius and Quintus, who have been framed for Bassianus's murder.
Act 3, Scene 2
At the Andronicus house, Titus, Lavinia, and Marcus sit around the table and enjoy a little snack.
Act 4, Scene 1
The next thing we know, Young Lucius is running across the house with his storybooks under his arm while Lavinia gives chase. Lucius drops his books.
Act 4, Scene 2
Young Lucius arrives at the door of the emperor's palace with gifts. Titus has sent Chiron and Demetrius the best weapons from his arsenal, along with a note (written in Latin) that says something...
Act 4, Scene 3
Titus, Marcus, Young Lucius, Publius, Sempronius, and Caius enter with arrows that have letters attached to them.
Act 4, Scene 4
At the palace, Saturninus complains to Tamora, Demetrius, and Chiron about Titus shooting arrows at him. Saturninus is not amused by this stunt and believes Titus is just pretending to be a madman....
Act 5, Scene 1
In a field near Rome, Lucius has gathered an army of Goths and Roman supporters of Titus. It turns out that the Roman people hate their current emperor.
Act 5, Scene 2
Tamora arrives at Titus's house disguised as "Revenge" and claiming to want to help Titus "right his heinous wrongs."
Act 5, Scene 3
At Titus's house, everyone has gathered for the much-anticipated dinner banquet.